Washington D.C. (Army
News Service) -- June 2, 2010 -- A new Army command will soon be
responsible for defending Army information networks from threats around the
globe.

The new Army Forces Cyber Command will be responsible for defending all of the
Army's information networks, said Maj. Gen. Steven W. Smith, director of the
Army Cyberspace Task Force. The new command will reach full operational
capacity before Oct 1, 2010.

A new Army command will soon be
responsible for defending Army information networks from threats around the
globe.

"The mission for ARFORCYBER is to direct the operation and
defense of all Army networks, and, on order, conduct full-spectrum operations
in support of our combatant commanders and coalition partners," Smith said.

The general said the command will operate in the "cyber domain." That domain
includes such things as the laptop, desktop, routers, servers, network
switches and both the short- and long-distance connections between Army
information systems. He also said that domain can include the networked
systems aboard Army combat vehicles.

"Anything with an IP address," he said.

The ARFORCYBER command will be built by integrating existing Army cyber
resources, not by creating new ones, Smith said.

NETCOM/9th Signal Command and portions of the 1st Information Operations
Command will be subordinate units to ARFORCYBER, for instance. Additionally,
the Intelligence and Security Command will be under the operational control of
ARFORCYBER for cyber-related actions.

While each of those units currently performs cyber-related missions, Smith
said integrating them under one command provides an increased benefit for the
Army.

"Today, we have individuals and teams and units doing the cyber fight -- but
they work for different people," he said. "At the Cyberspace Operations and
Integration Center at Fort Belvoir, for instance, all of these forces will
work for one dedicated command whose primary mission is to direct the
operations and defense of the network. This clearly brings that unity of
effort."

The center is a 24/7 operation, the general said. "That is the front line of
defense for defending the Army network worldwide."

The ARFORCYBER command will be built using existing facilities and existing
manpower, so no new construction will be required, Smith said. It is also not
expected that the Army will need to recruit new Soldiers, civilians or
contractors to man the 21,000-person command.

Smith also said the new command will be headquartered at either Fort Meade,
Md., near the headquarters for U.S. Cyber Command and the Natio